Wiping the sweat from his brow, Magnus flicked his straggly bangs back from his face.
“Land?” Keegan’s brow furrowed deeply, and he didn’t dismiss the notion that the bastard could very well just be taunting him into letting his guard drop. “What on earth are ye blatherin' on about?”
“Och, of course. Where are me manners?” Magnus circled the sword over his head before bringing it down, and Keegan countered with a strong block. “I forgot to mention that they would be giving me a portion of their land for the dowry. When they saw how verra upset I was to be losing such a prize—and perhaps nae that concerned over Willow’s fate—they said they dinnae wish to go through with it after all. Can ye imagine? Such an insult to me clever thinkin'.”
Keegan’s arms shook as he held off Magnus’s attack, but the laird was stronger than his competition, and he was able to throw the man back.
“Icanimagine nae wantin' to be associated with someone who cares more for a piece of land than his own sister. Aye.” Keegan shook his shoulders, forcing himself to ignore the fatigue that was grinding on his muscles. “Yer ‘clever’ thinkin' is a polite way to disguise yer lack of consideration for yer own family or anyone else’s. All ye care about is seizin' more territory.”
Magnus stepped back once, looking over the battle that raged all around them. After a moment, he met Keegan’s eyes again, an unsettling grin pinned to his face.
“Why, Laird Brahanne, ye’ve finally figured that out.” He swung his sword in his grip, watching the movement before sneering atKeegan. “How unfortunate as ye’ll be meeting yer end and nae able to use the knowledge to yer advantage.”
With that, Magnus rushed forward, jabbing his blade in a snapping attack forward. Keegan jumped out of the path, knocking Magnus’s sword to the side before circling it back around to slice through the man’s extended arm.
He screamed, reeling backward, and Magnus gripped at the slash, coating his hand in blood.
“Would ye nae do me a kindness,” his voice was rough, the screech filling the field around them, “and just die!”
Magnus lunged, and Keegan was only barely able to duck out of the way. As it was, the move sent Keegan into the muddy ground, and his body ached from the abrupt stop. He’d been injured himself, and the cuts and bruises each burned in their own unending sting that nearly overpowered the fury driving Keegan to keep going.
As Keegan got his wits about him, Magnus slammed down over the top of him, and Laird Brahanne threw up his blade at the last moment to block his opponent’s attack. The clang of their swords rang out into the night, and Keegan could see the crazed look in Magnus’s eyes despite the low light.
They scrambled through the dirt, spinning and toppling over each other until Keegan was butted up against the side of a wheel, his sword flung out of his grip and several yards away. One of the flaming wagons was just beside him, and the heatfrom the roaring fire was disgustingly intense at this proximity. He could feel it dry out his eyes, making them ache for moisture.
“I will be Laird of all Scotland!” Magnus screamed, his rational mind evidently left far behind. “Nae a single man will stand in me way!”
Magnus stabbed down, and Keegan jerked his head to the side. The sword sliced into the ground. It gave Keegan the chance to knock Magnus away from it, and he palmed the side of the man’s face, shoving it toward the wagon’s side.
It hit with a thud, making Magnus faltered, and Keegan surged up, snatching the blade for himself. Roaring back at him, blood dripping down the side of his face, Magnus pulled his smaller dirk from his belt. But this was done, and Keegan sliced across the back of Magnus’s hand, forcing him to drop the knife.
“Ye…” He sneered, his wild stare penetrating into Keegan’s skull. “Ye think that this is yer win? Ye will never be atruelaird. Ye are a fool, and ye willnae keep this land forever.”
Keegan held up the blade, leveling it at Magnus’s sternum as he stood pinned back against the wagon. There was no escaping his fate this time, and Keegan focused on Magnus, unblinking, as he finished their arduous fight once and for all.
“This is me home, and I will defend it as long as I am able. But…”
Taking a step forward, Keegan began to steadily push the point of the sword into Magnus’s chest. He hollered and gripped the blade, his failing strength not strong enough to stop its inexorable journey through him.
“Unlike yerself, Magnus, securing me land isnae the most crucial thing to me. I am here to defend nay solely the earth beneath me feet,” Keegan shoved harder, sinking the blade in and causing Magnus to cough up a glob of blood, “but the people who stand on it. We willnae bow to the likes of ye or any other who has no value for family and clan.”
“Ye’re…” Magnus could hardly speak now. “Ye’re…soft. J-Just like…yer whore.”
The sword jutted forward, making a fiendish noise of tearing viscera before it sunk into the wood behind Magnus and secured him to the burning wagon.
“Ye willnae speak of Willow like that again.” He leaned in, twisting the blade as he whispered into Magnus’s ear. “And ye will die with this knowledge. Ye have underestimated yer sister’s worth. Both of them, in fact. And now, the McCallum line will end with ye. Willow is a Brahanne this day, and there are none of yer family who will carry on yer name.”
Keegan worked the blade through Magnus until the hilt hit his breastbone. His ragged cries soared off into the night before the end finally claimed him. The fire taking the wagon he was pinned to blazed higher, and Keegan was forced to stand back from the scorching heat.
It would claim Magnus’s body, and Keegan would let it.
“Me laird!”
He spun around to the sound of Rodrick’s voice, and he saw his man-at-arms still trying to get Damon off the field and to the healer. The soldiers around him blocked the path, but as Keegan roared the Brahanne war cry, they turned to him, seeing their fallen Laird McCallum being engulfed in flames.
“Ye will leave this land and never return!” He gestured back toward Magnus. “Lest ye be wishing to join yer former laird in the ground!”
Swords dropped to the ground, and the warriors made their retreat—defeated this final time. They wouldn’t dare to return, after all, not after today.